Proud of Being a Woman.

The first event of the 12th Yakutian Women Congress was "a round table" -- the discussion of how social reforms influence on solving gender problems in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Organizers were Family and Children Affairs Committee of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), the Republic Union of Female Organizations, and Women-Scientists of Yakutia.

Sardana Guryeva, the assistant-chief of Department of State-Legal Matters and Interaction with Federal Bodies of Russian Federation, presided over a meeting. Delegates of congress, representatives of female public, Ministries and Departments officers took part in this session,.
Sardana Boyakova, the Head of the Arctic Researches Center of Humanitarian Researches of Scientific Association of the Republic Sakha (Yakutia) Institute, Liya Vinokurova, the chief-assistant of the Department of Small Number Northern Peoples Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Angelika Borisova, the Deputy of Youth Policy Minister, and others, spoke on wide a range of topics, such as maintenance of equal rights and opportunities in labour market, in sphere of science and education, health protection and prevention of violence towards women. Results of the analysis of gender aspect of legislation the Sakha Republic , proposals on improvement of women social position, families with children, were announced.

Participants of session were recommended to include in the project the resolutions of the XII Congress of Women of Yakutia addressed to the Sakha Republic Government, the State assembly (Il Tumen), the Public-Advisory council, Human Rights Commissioner, political parties. All of them are aiming at maintenance of the constitutional principle and the international norms of equality of rights and opportunities for men and women. That means alignment of opportunities within social programs, gender approach in placement of personnel, women, children and families protection development, etc.

Women support equal representation in directing bodies of political parties, bodies of the government and local self-management.

Delegates from villages and small towns met with active women from Yakutsk which told them about development of municipal economy, merits of different personalities in their work, public life, education of children, " they were ahead in everything". Elena Golomareva, the Chairperson of Suglan of Oleneksky Evenki national area, and one of two women in republic heading region councils of deputies, thanked the city dwellers for warm reception. She told about givng a helping hand to lonely mothers having many children. Elena Krylova, the Chairperson Verkhoyansky region women council introduced her former student Alexandra Grigoryieva. This person from Sakkyryr, now Eveno-Bytantaisky region, achieved a lot in her life owing to her persistence and workability. Alexandra Mihailovna became professor of the Institute of Small Peoples of the North of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, the president of the international public organization Yurta of the world , now - a senior scientific employee of University of Toronto , living in Canada . Barbara Djakonova, the president of Yurta of the world branch in Yakutia and Elena Golomareva prolonged the theme and told about last year's trip of delegations from Abyisky and Oleneksky regiones, under Alexandra Grigorieva's invitation, on the festival of native peoples ( Canada ). They brought photos, a videocassette to show to the delegates of the congress. I Folklore Festival of Evenks will take place in Olenek in April.

Tatyana Harlampyeva, the head, pleased with the information on activity of her regional organization of disabled people. She is also a Chairperson of Pokrovsk Women Council and a deputy of City Council. This energetic public figure achieved families of the disabled invalids to receive ten apartments in the new comfortable building, mothers with disabled children got two apartments, two young people made a complete recovery from alchogolism, now earn money for social needs. Quite often, the healthy ask the Association of disabled people to sponsor their actions. Here what women at us!

Written by Oksana Petrovskaya.
Translated by Alexandra Markova
Resource (in Russian): GazetaYakutia.Ru